The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued a firm directive banning the collection of fees for the use of washrooms in all its facilities, citing the need to uphold patient dignity and improve public health standards. This action comes in response to growing concerns over reports that some hospitals and clinics were charging patients and visitors fees for using washrooms, a practice the GHS describes as exploitative and inappropriate.
In a circular dated April 16, 2025, and signed by Acting Director-General Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, all Regional Directors have been instructed to enforce the immediate cessation of such charges. The circular warns that failure to comply will attract sanctions for facility heads.
“The washrooms must at all times be kept clean and comfortable to prevent the risk of infection, improve perception of patient care quality, and increase patient satisfaction,” the circular stated. “Regional Directors are accordingly requested to ensure that this practice ceases with immediate effect. Failure by facility heads to adhere to this directive will attract sanctions.”
“Kindly bring this to the notice of Heads of facilities for strict compliance,” it added. The GHS highlighted the importance of clean and accessible washrooms in maintaining public health and preventing infections, emphasizing that this move goes beyond ethics to core healthcare principles.
